Tool for seaming sheet metal



@www "F" C, R SCHLHQHT 2,;@369725 E TOOL FOR SEAMING SHEET METAL Filed May 23 1934 Patented Apr. 7, -193;

UNITED ST PATENT @FFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel and improved tool for seaming sheet metal.

One of the main objects of this invention is to provide a tool o-r tong for clenching or seaming sheet metal in laying metal roong, whereby the sheets at the seam are caused to make a gradual rounding bend instead of a sharp one, so as to eliminate any chance of cracking the galvanized coating on heavily coated sheets and preventing any cracking or breaking of the metal along the seam or line of fold.

Another object of this invention is to provide an efficient tool of this kind which is very simple and durable in construction, and can be economically manufactured and readily manipulated.

These and other objects and advantages are attained with this invention, as will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein the invention is shown in its preferred form of construction, it being understood that various other forms and modifications may be resorted to for carrying out the objects and purpose of this invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line I-I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a pair of connected sheets with the cap piece thereon before the bending operation.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of said members after the rst bending operation is completed.

The drawing illustrates my invention in its preferred form of construction, which comprises cooperating jaw members including an arched top plate or head member I providing the arched center jaw, and a pair of angular jaw plates or jaws members II providing the outer angular jaws. Said pair of plates include a pair of lower angle portions or flange elements I2 which extend toward each other, and which are movable inwardly along the curved depending side portions I3 on head member I0, and then movable upwardly toward the curved or arched center portion I4 of the nether face of said member Il).

The angular jaw members I I are pivotally connected to the jaw member I0, and to effect economy I use a pair of strong and durable wing hinges which include each a full sized wing I5 and a cut-down or short wing I6. The wing I5 is placed outwardly and is secured to the main portion of an angle member, by suitable rivets or the like, and the shorter wing I6 is placed inwardly and is similarly secured upon arched member I0, so that the members i I are swingable upon hinge pin Il with respect to member I0, and the angle portions I2 are swingable toward and away from the face portion I4. 5 The means ior operating the device or for swinging the jaw members is preferably provided 4in the form of a toggle mechanism, which comprises a rod or shaft 2U having toes 2| at its lower end secured upon the pair of wings I6 and on 1o head member Ill, with rivets or the like; also a pair of links 22, each having an outer fork 23 pivotally connected to a lug 24 provided on the upper part of hinge portion I5. Each link has its inward end pivotally connected to a pair of spaced ears 25 extending laterally from a collar 25, said collar being freely slidable longitudinally of rod or shaft 213, as becomes apparent upon viewing Fig. l.

Handles 21 are secured to jaw members II, as by the use of rivets 28 and U-bolts 29 embracing the handles and extending through membersv Il and I5 and provided with suitable nuts on their ends. Said handles 2l are preferably in the form of pipe members, as indicated in the drawing, to provide for economy and for strength.

This seaming tool is very simple and economical and at the same time very durable in construction, and is readily manipulated. It is especially adapted as clenching tongs in laying sheet metal roofing, wherein the sheets or sections 30 are preformed to contain upstanding side anges 3l having inturned flanges 32 thereon, while a cap piece 33 with depending wings 34 is mounted over said flanges 32, as indicated in Fig. 3 of the 35 drawing. This tool is applied to the sheets, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and as the handles 21 are drawn apart, the central part of cap piece 33 is gradually rounded and curved underneath the curved part I4 of head member I0, while at the same time wings 34 are bent over on flanges 32 with a gradually rounding fold, as indicated at 35 in Fig. 4, and are firmly pressed underneath the down curved flanges 32. Cement 36 is preferably placed between the pair of adjoining iianges 3l of a pair of metal sheet members 3D, thus making a water-tight joint. The sheets of metal are thus gradually rounded at the seam, without any cracking or breaking at the bend, and without any chance of cracking thick galvanized coating provided on the sheets.

I claim:

1. A seaming tool adapted for bending the projecting edge means of an upper plate around the underlying edge means of metal sheet means in 55 roofing, said tool comprising a head member having an arched nether face with a pair of oppositely extending down-curved side wings, a pair of angular jaws including a pair of bottom jaw plates extending toward each other and movable past said wings toward the intermediate part of said arc-hed face, means swingably connecting said angular jaws to the head member, and operating means including a rod connected to said head member and means movably connected with said rod and with said jaws, whereby to produce a gradually rounding bend in the overlapping edge parts of sheet metal at the seam.

2. A roof seaming tool adapted for bending the projecting edge means of an upper plate around the underlying edge means of metal sheet means, said tool comprising head member providing a center jaw having an arched nether face with oppositely positioned downwardly curved side wing portions, a pair of angular jaws having inwardly extending lower angle portions movable upwardly against said nether face, a pair of wing hinges having their upper wing portions secured to the upper portions of said pair of angular jaws and relatively short lower wing portions secured upon said center jaw, a rod secured to said arched jaw and its hinge portions, means slidable on the rod, and link means pivotally connected to said slidable means and to the upper hinge portions and the angular jaws, whereby to produce a gradually rounding bend in the overlapping edge parts of sheet metal at the seam.

3. A seaming tool adapted for bending the projecting edge means of an upper plate, provided with a galvanized coating, around the underlying flange means of sheet metal in roong, said tool consisting of a curved head member having an arched nether face with downwardly curved side portions, a pair of angular jaws having inwardly extending lower angle portions which are movable along said side portions and upwardly against the intermediate part of said arched face, a pair of wing hinges having a pair of upper wings secured to said angular jaws and having relatively short lower wings which are secured upon said head member, a rod having toe means secured to said short wings and head member, a collar slidable on said rod, a pair of links pivotally connected to said collar and to the upper wings and attached jaws, and handles secured to said angular jaws, whereby to gradually round the folds at the seam in the overlapping edge parts of galvanized sheet metal and prevent cracking of the metal and the galvanized coating thereon.

4. A seaming tool adapted for bending the overlapping edge means of an upper plate, provided with a galvanized coating, around the underlying flange means of sheet metal in roofing, said tool comprising a curved head member having an arched nether face with a pair of downwardly curved side wings at the two opposite outer edges, a pair of angle-shaped jaws including a pair of inwardly extending lower plate portions which are movable along said side wing portions and upwardly against the intermediate part oi.' said arched face, hinge means and operating means swingably connecting said pair of jaws with said head member, and handles connected with said jaws and operating the same, whereby to gradually round the folds at the seam in the overlapping edge parts of galvanized sheet metal and prevent cracking of the metal and the galvanized coating thereon.

5. A tool for bending the projecting edge means of an upper plate around the underlying edge means of metal sheet means in seaming sheet metal roofs, consisting of a curved head member having an arched nether face, the extreme opposite side portions of which constitute a pair of l downwardly curved side wings, a pair of angleplate jaws including a pair of upwardly extending plates and a pair of lower inwardly extending plates thereon which are movable along said side wings and inwardly and upwardly against the intermediate part of said arched face, a pair of wing hinges having their upper wings secured to said upwardly extending jaw plates and having their lower wings secured upon said head member, a rod having its lower part secured to said lower wings and head member, a member slidable on said rod, link means pivotally connected with said slidable member and with said upper wings and upwardly extending jaw plates, and handle means secured to said upper plates and wings for operating the tool, whereby to produce a gradually rounding bend in the edge portions of sheets of metal joined in forming the seam.

CARL R. SCHLICHT. 

